Lina Soualem’s Bye Bye Tiberias is essentially a way for the filmmaker to get a better understanding of her roots. But, as we watch, we also get to understand a bit about life as exiles (be it involuntary or the result of personal choice). It brings a decidedly female perspective on life in Palestine in…
Anna Hints’s Smoke Sauna Sisterhood provides a glimpse into the lives of a group of Estonian women. Their lives are shared with humor, sorrow, and compassion. The documentary won the World Cinema Documentary Directing Award and is Estonia’s entry for Best International Feature consideration. The smoke sauna is included in UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of…
?It?s white women?s niceness that is killing us all.? A group of women sit around a dining room table to break bread and talk. But it won?t be an easy or pleasant conversation. That is because it will strive to be an honest conversation about race in America. Deconstructing Karen, a documentary by director Patty…
?We are responsible for the community we build and the stories we tell.? This is the tagline for AFI Fest 2021. That phrase appears on various promotional materials. It reflects the idea that films are more than just entertainment; they help to shape the way people see the world. That understanding is very appropriate for…
Life is often about chasing after dreams. But is the chase itself enough to make for a complete life? In Greta Bellamacina?s Hurt by Paradise, we watch two women who are chasing after dreams that are probably beyond their grasps. Should we see this as a celebration or with pity?or both? Celeste Blackwood (played by…
Breaking into the ?boys club? is never easy. Even as things begin to improve due to recent movements surrounding women in the Hollywood, the power still remains predominantly in the hands of the men in the industry. Interestingly, while many of these conversations have surrounded gender equity in filmmaking and production, what about the world…
I try not to mansplain things. But being a male reviewing Portrait of a Lady on Fire makes me feel as if I?m doing so. That is not to say that the film needs mansplaining. Writer director C?line Sciamma has crafted a wonderful story of women seeking love and fulfilment in a world that treats…
This week, Steve welcomes actor Amanda Jane Smith and pastor Judith McCartney to enter into the battle with?Patty Jenkins’ Wonder Woman. ?While the film has scored with both critics and fans, there seems to be something much more significant about this particular moment. ?Is it true that Diana’s story provides a proper role model for…
Colossal co-stars Anne Hathaway, Jason Sudeikis and director Nacho Vigalondo In her latest film, Colossal, Hathaway manages to channel all of her experience into her portrayal of Gloria, an alcoholic with a deep desire for belonging.? During the film?s world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September of last year, we had the…
This week on the show, Chris Utley joins Steve to talk diversity in the Oscars and their response to last years #OscarsSoWhite controversy! ?Plus, they also look at the Oscar-nominated film, HIDDEN FIGURES and the cultural impact of breaking barriers of ?race and gender! Want to continue to conversation at home? ?Click the link below…
